We see only buildings in Mumbai, no greenery: Vivek Oberoi

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi on Monday said that the weather in Mumbai is becoming hotter day by day. “We can see only buildings in such Metro. The denizens have to take children out of Mumbai to show them trees,” he added.During his day-long visit to Naya Raipur, the actor lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Raman Singh in making ‘Harihar Chhattisgarh’ a people’s movement. 

Oberoi planted an almond sapling at the Botanical Gardens in Naya Raipur. The gardens are being developed by the Forest Department in an area of 320 hectares. The actor also appreciated the campaign to plant ten crore saplings in Chhattisgarh where total population is about two-and-half crore. Minister  Mahesh Gagda, Forest Department Principal Secretary RP Mandal, Chief Conservator of Forests AA  Bohaj, Additional Principal Conservator of Forests Mudit Kumar Singh and other top Forest Department officers were present at the function.

The Botanical Gardens are being developed in front of the Jungle Safari. The Jungle Safari and Botanical Gardens are being developed on 1,250-hectare area, which will have ‘Green Forest Range.’ Vivek Oberoi said that as per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra  Modi about 121 crore saplings should be planted by the 121 crore population.

About five-and-half lakh saplings will be planted at Naya Raipur in this year alone. Target is to plant 40 lakh saplings in Naya Raipur as a part of ‘Harihar Chhattisgarh’ campaign.The film actor also lauded the efforts of Forest Minister Mahesh Gagda and the officers of the Forest Department in launching the campaign.

He visited the spot where the Forest Department transplanted a 20-year-old tree recently. The Bollywood actor said that to find tree shade in Mumbai is very difficult.While one can find tree-shades in Raipur all over, which gives solace to the soul. The tree-transplanter is a very useful machine to preserve age-old trees, he said. Oberoi said that thousands of trees can be saved with the help of modern technology. He  said the cost of each tree in Mumbai is Rs5 lakh which can easily be saved by tree-transplanter technology.

Oberoi appreciated the Naya Raipur Development Project and he was much impressed by the handicrafts of Bastar. Oberoi also met villagers of Naya Raipur. Notably,  the Chhattisgarh Government has set a target of planting as many as 10 crore saplings under its ‘Hariyar Chhattisgarh Campaign’ this monsoon season. The plantation drives will be taken up at various locations of the State, officials stated.

Nearly eight crore saplings will be planted by various departments of the State Government, while remaining two crore saplings are to be planted by industries and other private organisations.The target was set last month at a meeting of 'Hariyar Chhattigarh Campaign' chaired by the Chief Minister at the Mantralaya here.

Singh deliberated upon preparations for conducting the campaign, and decided to organise intensive plantation programmes in all the districts of the State on July 31.The Chief Minister instructed officials to meet the target of planting about 2.5 crore saplings in all villages and cities of the State — including Naya Raipur — on July 31.

It is noteworthy that July 31 is the day when great litterateur Munshi Premchand was born.Singh said that maximum number of school, college students and public representatives should take part in the plantation programme to be organised on July 31.He directed the officials to invite people from all sections of the society, senior citizens and also social service organisations in order to ensure success of these plantation drives.

Singh said that many important species of trees are found in Chhattisgarh, which have high medicinal values. But these species are on the verge of extinction of late, he said.Hence, he suggested that tissue culture technique should be adopted for preservation of these endangered species like Char-chiraunji, bamboo etc.